Washington's 3 birthdays

Washington is the only person I know of that has three birth dates celebrated in his honor. We now officially use Presidents Day for the observance, but I grew up honoring only February 22, which I still feel an emotional attachment to. That's two dates. What's number three?

The family Bible says he was born February 11, a date many of his admirers celebrated throughout his life. Where did this third date come from? Washington was born under the Julian Calendar. When he was an adult, the British and their colonies switched to the Gregorian calendar, which delayed the observance by 11 days, thus February 22.

It is no surprise Washington's birthday would be an enigma. He was always a bit distant and hard to know real well. A mystique enveloped his person. Thus it is appropriate that even his birthdate would mystify us.

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